Title: Shifting Dynamics -- Running With The Big Dogs
Author: Chibimono Akuno
Fandom: Marvel Movie!verse -- Iron Man 1 & 2, Captain America, The Avengers
Pairing: Bucky/Steve/Tony
Rating: PG
Word Count: 577
Warnings: Polygamous relationship.
Disclaimers: Not mine. Just pretending.
Summary: Bucky's arm, already a hindrance, won't keep him out of a fight.
A/N: A part of the arc Finding The Pattern Of The Weave, in which Bucky, Steve, and Tony find what it takes to fit together. Takes place post-movie, canon-wise, and after the arc Past Verses Present For The Future. Shifting Dynamics masterlist can be found
here.
Shifting Dynamics:
Running With The Big Dogs
by Chibimono Akuno
“What the hell were you even trying to do?” Tony was yelling, faceplate up and eyes wild. “I told you to stay in the damn workshop. Why couldn’t you stay in the damn workshop? You could have lost your arm, for fucks sake!”
Maybe it was the concussion, but Bucky had that dizzy disoriented feeling that maybe he knew what Steve felt like all those years ago at that enlistment station. “Oh, but Tony, you could be my knight in shining armor any day,” Bucky smirks, trying to push the feeling of helplessness away.
“Steve is going to fucking kill you,” Tony grit out, picking up Bucky and rushing him back into Stark Tower. He sat Bucky in an elevator, propped him against the wall and hit the button for the medical labs. “And when he’s done, I’m going to kill you,” he snapped, his faceplate slamming into place, brokering no arguments. Then Iron Man disappeared behind shiny elevator doors.
As the doors dinged back open, Bucky wasn’t sure if he had been conscious the whole ride. Medical staff ushered in to lift him up and get him on a gurney. In the haze of spinning and confusion, the pain of Bucky’s arm grabbed his attention. It was a bloody, shredded mess, but he could still feel his fingers. Wiggling them hurt like hell, though. Hurt enough to black out again.
He woke up again, probably some hours later, completely unable to breathe with a super soldier incubus kissing the life out of him. If this was how Steve was going to kill him, Bucky was fine with that, really.
“I’m not losing you again,” Steve whimpered against Bucky’s lips, the closest Steve would ever get to crying. The pain in those words hit Bucky hard, leaving him feeling stupid and regretful.
“I just… I wanted to watch out for my fellas,” Bucky frowned as Steve leaned his forehead against Bucky’s, the helplessness coming back full force.
Someone squeezed his good hand, and Bucky found Tony sitting at his side. “Hey, when you get some super abilities, you can come play with us. But don’t go trying this shit again until you do.”
Now, that rankled Bucky’s nerves. “So, what? Now I’m the damn housewife?”
“Bucky, no,” Steve said pleadingly, kissing the corner of his mouth.
“No, Steve. I’m not taking this. How could you even let him say that?”
Steve sat back from Bucky, looking away. For a second, he thought Steve was going to pull up the comments about scrap collecting in a little red wagon and throw it in his face.
“What do I have to do then? Give me a metal suit or something,” Bucky demanded, clenching his teeth.
“Not that I don’t trust you, but I already have one suit running around that I don’t have complete control of anymore,” Tony sighed, scrubbing at his face.
Steve slid off the hospital bed and walked to the door. “I… I wouldn’t sideline you, Buck. I know you’ve had my back more times than I could count. But… Tony’s right.”
“Steve, you can’t!” The betrayal was a punch to his chest.
“No, I can’t,” Steve turned to look at Bucky, smiling sadly. “So, I’m going to talk to Fury. Maybe he’ll get you into some kind of SHIELD training. I don’t want to lose you ever again, but with some help, at least I won’t have to worry about how you’ll fend on your own.”
Tony squeezed his hand again. “And then maybe you can come out and play with us.”